Shredding stereotypes in the middle east and beyond

If there’s a fire in your belly fuelled by octane, and the thrill of the race is in your veins, you’ll find a way to realize your ambitions on the racetrack. Even if you’re a woman in the strife-torn middle east. And there’s no better proof of that than the Speed Sisters, an all-woman race car team from Palestine.

Yes, Palestine. It’s unlikely to find anyone racing cars in Palestine, and it’s downright mind-bending to find a group of young women screeching around a track, drifting through cones – and did we say, winning? Their latest accomplishment is a documentary film, simply entitled “Speed Sisters,” offering us a glimpse into their backstory and current lives. It almost looks like they’re like the rest of us, alternately embracing and scrapping, shopping, and getting their nails done.

But Noor, Marah, Betty, Mona and manager Maysoon, are defying cultural and class expectations to follow their hearts and race cars. Even in a military occupied zone, when you swoop into the driver’s seat, bear down on the clutch and shimmy around a track, you’re free as a bird. No doubt it’s part of the magic formula for these women.

Practicing their skills where they can – fruit markets, abandoned roads – the Speed Sisters show off their winning style, even though they come from diverse backgrounds. Marah’s family have sacrificed their dream of a new home to buy her a new Suzuki, while Betty strikes a sponsorship deal with a local Peugot dealer.

But on the track, it’s a level playing field. With steely precision, they carve up the dusty makeshift track, elegantly spinning around cones, finishing up with a dramatic burnout. The hearty cheers come from their supporters, male and female, for whom the Speed Sisters represent not just a winning race team, but also, the vitality of their community in the face of occupation. It is a triumph of the spirit – which knows no gender.

Closer to home, collision repair tech Hilary Noack is shredding stereotypes with her all-woman bodyshop named “Ink & Iron.” At a recent open house for her new shop in Mississauga, friends, family and curious strangers celebrated Noack’s achievement. She’s barely been open for a month, and already has more than enough business to keep her all-woman team hopping. Just outside the door, a bevy of classic and not-so-classic vehicles in various states of disrepair awaited their turn in the bay. Inside, there were hors d’oeuvres, sandwiches, finger foods and desserts for the crowd, as Noack wound her way through the well-wishers.

The team at Ink & Iron.

Noack is a role model for any young woman, and not just in the automotive sector. Although she raised some funds for her enterprise through Indie-Gogo, her business is a tribute to her hard work, focus and determination. Her mother, a kindergarten teacher, couldn’t be more excited for her daughter’s success, and her father was simply beaming with pride.

Another testament to Noack’s accomplishment was the presence of Victoria Ellis, the mastermind behind the International Women’s Automotive Society. Ellis had made the trek from Michigan, where she works in a corporate technical service capacity for Chrysler (FCA). Her not-for-profit organization aims to connect and encourage women in the automotive sector. Barely 26 years old, Ellis is a diesel tech who has climbed the corporate ladder at FCA, but wants to do more.

Her father, who was documenting the event with his camera, said Ellis had told him she wanted to work with cars when she was only six years old. Her mother, who was manning the registration and raffle, smiled and nodded. Ellis clearly has her eyes on the prize – she wants to connect internationally with women who have a passion for all things automotive.

In all cases, these are young women who are not afraid to reach beyond their grasp.

It gives me great hope for the future of automotive – and well beyond.

You’re not the only one applauding them, Susan! At the film debut, the audience stood up and cheered the Speed Sisters for several minutes. I have a feeling there will be repeat episodes wherever that film is screened.

Ooh, ice-racing is pretty hairy. There’s a video of Marah in upstate New York, taking a Mazda RX-8 around the snowy track at Limestone. It’s her first time driving on snow, and wouldn’t you know, she kicks butt!

Great story. It’s nice to see these women following and realizing their dreams in the male-dominated automotive world. And the Speed Sisters are dealing with additional obstacles given their location. All I can say is “Way to go, ladies!”

how FABULOUS! You know I’m rooting for these women to show up in F1 races. Love this: “Practicing their skills where they can – fruit markets, abandoned roads” Having traveled a good deal in Europe, I have a vivid pic of this in my mind!

Patricia, I know that Marah is shooting for F1, and she’s certainly skilled enough to make it. Once this movie gets wider distribution, she should be able to have her pick of sponsors. As you know, that’s always the stickiest part of racing. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Those women, and their supportive families are awesome and I usually don’t use that word. I love the idea of being elegant on a makeshift track. The name Speed Sisters is perfect. Good for the women mechanics too!

I just love stories like this! There are so many amazing women around the world and we so seldom learn about their accomplishments let alone the enormous odds they have – and continue to – overcome. Thank you for the inspiration!

That is a great story and inspirational for other youngsters in that part of the world and god knows they can do with all the inspiration they can get. I am having a hard time envisioning them racing around Palestine but good for them…to be clear I have a hard time imagining anyone racing around Palestine.

Yes, Tim, racing is quite the sport, and I don’t know how they do it in the Middle East. Where do they get the tires, the car parts, let alone the track?! A real tribute to their indomitable spirit, for sure.

Hi Krystyna, FANTASTIC – I loved all of it. Good for all those young women. I admire the spirit of the Speed Sisters. We only hear about the suppression of women in Palestine and in the Middle East – so nice to hear another side and I enjoyed picturing them racing around. As for the women mechanics and Victoria Ellis, good for them – barriers can be torn down. When I was young we had a choice of secretary, nurse, teacher or getting married – what a long way we’ve come.

Goodness, Lenie, you’re so right! Young women today are so confident and fearless, and have so many more choices than we ever did. The Speed Sisters really do give us a very unique perspective on the Middle East, especially from a woman’s point of view.

What an uplifting article! I want to know more about each and every one of these ladies. They all sound fascinating in their own right. And I would venture to say that nothing is beyond their grasp, given what they’ve already accomplished. Thanks for introducing us to them!

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Krystyna Lagowski drives like a girl

And I’m proud of it. I also write like a girl, about topics that more and more girls are getting involved in. That includes everything automotive, as well as transportation related issues like commuting, urban design, bicycling, pedestrian rights, public transit, and more. Although my approach may be light-hearted and upbeat, I take these topics very seriously, and hope you do as well.

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Drive like a girl is a metaphor - it's about digging fearlessly into the many issues around cars and transportation. Join me as I take an irreverent and insightful look at anything and everything related to the car industry, transportation, and beyond.

About Krystyna Lagowski

I'm a Toronto-based freelance writer with a love for all things automotive. But I also bicycle, take transit and walk because that's the reality of today's urban existence. And then, I write about it. I'd love to write for you too - drop me a line at writer@drivelikeagirl.ca